History-makers Bosnia, holders History-makers Bosnia, holders Spain, qualify for World Cup
PARIS: Bosnia-Herzegovina reached their first ever major finals on Tuesday as a 1-0 win over Lithuania saw them confirm their place at next year’s World Cup.
They will be joined by holders Spain, who made no mistake in beating Georgia 2-0 at home in Albacete, and England, who also won 2-0 at home to Poland to reach their fifth successive World Cup finals.
England’s manager from their failed 2010 finals campaign Fabio Capello will also be in Brazil after Russia got the point they needed with a 1-1 away draw at Azerbaijan.
It will be the 2018 World Cup hosts’ first World Cup finals since 2002.
Bosnia — who had lost to Portugal in play-offs for the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012 — progress at the expense of Greece, who go into the play-offs, while Portugal finish runners-up to Russia and will also contest a winner takes all play-off.
Vedad Ibisevic was Bosnia’s hero as he scored what was the most important of his 20 international goals as the 29-year-old Stuttgart striker struck in the 68th minute.
His side-footed effort came just two minutes after he had seen another shot brilliantly saved by Giederius Arlauskas, who had denied Bosnia throughout the match in a stunning performance.
Arlausakas’s performance could be put into the context that only the Germans and the Dutch have scored more goals in the qualifying games than the Bosnians.
Bosnia coach Safet Susic, who appeared in two World Cup finals for the former Yugoslavia, was ecstatic.
“I congratulate these guys for their great work in the last four years,” he told local TV.
“It would have been a real injustice if we had failed to win the group and qualify for the World Cup.” Greece by contrast have failed to sparkle in front of goal and were only able to beat Liechtenstein 2-0 in Athens leaving them with just 12 goals in their 10 qualifiers.
Spain’s 2-0 win extends their remarkable record in being unbeaten in World Cup qualifying matches dating back to 1993 and while they have also like the Greeks not piled on the goals coach Vicente del Bosque said they had shown other qualities.
“We need to value what we have done in this group. It hasn’t always been easy because the opponents have defended deep and made it difficult for us.
Portugal, Greece, France and Ukraine — the latter two finishing runners-up to Spain and England respectively, will learn who their opponents are in the play-offs in the draw next Monday.
Portuguese coach Paulo Bento admitted they had not been the best team in the group but pledged his side would do their utmost to reach Brazil.
“When results and performances have not been good it is logical to shake things up,” said Bento, who took them to the Euro 2012 semi-finals.
“However, we cannot as we have a short time only to prepare for the play-offs in the best possible manner.”
Chile, Ecuador through; Uruguay to playoff
Chile beat Ecuador 2-1 in their closing South American qualifier in Santiago on Tuesday as both went through automatically to the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil.
The result consigned Uruguay, despite beating group winners Argentina 3-2 in Montevideo, to a playoff against Jordan next month for one more berth in the finals.
Argentina, Colombia, Chile and Ecuador occupied the top four automatic qualifying places in the nine-nation group with Uruguay going into the playoff next month, despite catching Ecuador on 25 points but having an inferior goal difference.
They will face Asia qualifiers Jordan over two legs in their fourth consecutive playoff, having taken that route to the 2002 and 2010 finals and being eliminated by Australia at the same stage in the qualifiers for the 2006 finals.
Chile striker Alexis Sanchez and midfielder Gary Medel scored in the first half for Chile with Felipe Caicedo pulling one back for the Ecuadoreans.
Chilean pressure was rewarded in 35th minute when Sanchez scored with a header and Medel doubled their lead two minutes later connecting with Sanchez’s header following a Marcelo Diaz corner.
In Montevideo, midfielder Cristian Rodriguez, striker Luis Suarez with a penalty and Edinson Cavani scored for Uruguay with Maxi Rodriguez, Argentina captain in the absence of the injured Lionel Messi, replying twice.
Colombia, who had qualified on Friday, ended their campaign on a winning note with a 2-1 victory over Paraguay in Asuncion, both their goals coming from central defender Mario Yepes.
“Colombia showed they want to be a great team... Today we had to make a big effort and that’s a sign the team want to keep growing,” said their Argentine coach Jose Pekerman, who was without suspended striker Radamel Falcao in Asuncion.
They will be joined by holders Spain, who made no mistake in beating Georgia 2-0 at home in Albacete, and England, who also won 2-0 at home to Poland to reach their fifth successive World Cup finals.
England’s manager from their failed 2010 finals campaign Fabio Capello will also be in Brazil after Russia got the point they needed with a 1-1 away draw at Azerbaijan.
It will be the 2018 World Cup hosts’ first World Cup finals since 2002.
Bosnia — who had lost to Portugal in play-offs for the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012 — progress at the expense of Greece, who go into the play-offs, while Portugal finish runners-up to Russia and will also contest a winner takes all play-off.
Vedad Ibisevic was Bosnia’s hero as he scored what was the most important of his 20 international goals as the 29-year-old Stuttgart striker struck in the 68th minute.
His side-footed effort came just two minutes after he had seen another shot brilliantly saved by Giederius Arlauskas, who had denied Bosnia throughout the match in a stunning performance.
Arlausakas’s performance could be put into the context that only the Germans and the Dutch have scored more goals in the qualifying games than the Bosnians.
Bosnia coach Safet Susic, who appeared in two World Cup finals for the former Yugoslavia, was ecstatic.
“I congratulate these guys for their great work in the last four years,” he told local TV.
“It would have been a real injustice if we had failed to win the group and qualify for the World Cup.” Greece by contrast have failed to sparkle in front of goal and were only able to beat Liechtenstein 2-0 in Athens leaving them with just 12 goals in their 10 qualifiers.
Spain’s 2-0 win extends their remarkable record in being unbeaten in World Cup qualifying matches dating back to 1993 and while they have also like the Greeks not piled on the goals coach Vicente del Bosque said they had shown other qualities.
“We need to value what we have done in this group. It hasn’t always been easy because the opponents have defended deep and made it difficult for us.
Portugal, Greece, France and Ukraine — the latter two finishing runners-up to Spain and England respectively, will learn who their opponents are in the play-offs in the draw next Monday.
Portuguese coach Paulo Bento admitted they had not been the best team in the group but pledged his side would do their utmost to reach Brazil.
“When results and performances have not been good it is logical to shake things up,” said Bento, who took them to the Euro 2012 semi-finals.
“However, we cannot as we have a short time only to prepare for the play-offs in the best possible manner.”
Chile, Ecuador through; Uruguay to playoff
Chile beat Ecuador 2-1 in their closing South American qualifier in Santiago on Tuesday as both went through automatically to the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil.
The result consigned Uruguay, despite beating group winners Argentina 3-2 in Montevideo, to a playoff against Jordan next month for one more berth in the finals.
Argentina, Colombia, Chile and Ecuador occupied the top four automatic qualifying places in the nine-nation group with Uruguay going into the playoff next month, despite catching Ecuador on 25 points but having an inferior goal difference.
They will face Asia qualifiers Jordan over two legs in their fourth consecutive playoff, having taken that route to the 2002 and 2010 finals and being eliminated by Australia at the same stage in the qualifiers for the 2006 finals.
Chile striker Alexis Sanchez and midfielder Gary Medel scored in the first half for Chile with Felipe Caicedo pulling one back for the Ecuadoreans.
Chilean pressure was rewarded in 35th minute when Sanchez scored with a header and Medel doubled their lead two minutes later connecting with Sanchez’s header following a Marcelo Diaz corner.
In Montevideo, midfielder Cristian Rodriguez, striker Luis Suarez with a penalty and Edinson Cavani scored for Uruguay with Maxi Rodriguez, Argentina captain in the absence of the injured Lionel Messi, replying twice.
Colombia, who had qualified on Friday, ended their campaign on a winning note with a 2-1 victory over Paraguay in Asuncion, both their goals coming from central defender Mario Yepes.
“Colombia showed they want to be a great team... Today we had to make a big effort and that’s a sign the team want to keep growing,” said their Argentine coach Jose Pekerman, who was without suspended striker Radamel Falcao in Asuncion.
Paraguay, who reached the 2010 quarter-finals under Barcelona’s present coach Gerardo Martino, failed in their bid to reach a fifth successive tournament. Spain, qualify for World Cup
They will be joined by holders Spain, who made no mistake in beating Georgia 2-0 at home in Albacete, and England, who also won 2-0 at home to Poland to reach their fifth successive World Cup finals.
England’s manager from their failed 2010 finals campaign Fabio Capello will also be in Brazil after Russia got the point they needed with a 1-1 away draw at Azerbaijan.
It will be the 2018 World Cup hosts’ first World Cup finals since 2002.
Bosnia — who had lost to Portugal in play-offs for the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012 — progress at the expense of Greece, who go into the play-offs, while Portugal finish runners-up to Russia and will also contest a winner takes all play-off.
Vedad Ibisevic was Bosnia’s hero as he scored what was the most important of his 20 international goals as the 29-year-old Stuttgart striker struck in the 68th minute.
His side-footed effort came just two minutes after he had seen another shot brilliantly saved by Giederius Arlauskas, who had denied Bosnia throughout the match in a stunning performance.
Arlausakas’s performance could be put into the context that only the Germans and the Dutch have scored more goals in the qualifying games than the Bosnians.
Bosnia coach Safet Susic, who appeared in two World Cup finals for the former Yugoslavia, was ecstatic.
“I congratulate these guys for their great work in the last four years,” he told local TV.
“It would have been a real injustice if we had failed to win the group and qualify for the World Cup.” Greece by contrast have failed to sparkle in front of goal and were only able to beat Liechtenstein 2-0 in Athens leaving them with just 12 goals in their 10 qualifiers.
Spain’s 2-0 win extends their remarkable record in being unbeaten in World Cup qualifying matches dating back to 1993 and while they have also like the Greeks not piled on the goals coach Vicente del Bosque said they had shown other qualities.
“We need to value what we have done in this group. It hasn’t always been easy because the opponents have defended deep and made it difficult for us.
Portugal, Greece, France and Ukraine — the latter two finishing runners-up to Spain and England respectively, will learn who their opponents are in the play-offs in the draw next Monday.
Portuguese coach Paulo Bento admitted they had not been the best team in the group but pledged his side would do their utmost to reach Brazil.
“When results and performances have not been good it is logical to shake things up,” said Bento, who took them to the Euro 2012 semi-finals.
“However, we cannot as we have a short time only to prepare for the play-offs in the best possible manner.”
Chile, Ecuador through; Uruguay to playoff
Chile beat Ecuador 2-1 in their closing South American qualifier in Santiago on Tuesday as both went through automatically to the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil.
The result consigned Uruguay, despite beating group winners Argentina 3-2 in Montevideo, to a playoff against Jordan next month for one more berth in the finals.
Argentina, Colombia, Chile and Ecuador occupied the top four automatic qualifying places in the nine-nation group with Uruguay going into the playoff next month, despite catching Ecuador on 25 points but having an inferior goal difference.
They will face Asia qualifiers Jordan over two legs in their fourth consecutive playoff, having taken that route to the 2002 and 2010 finals and being eliminated by Australia at the same stage in the qualifiers for the 2006 finals.
Chile striker Alexis Sanchez and midfielder Gary Medel scored in the first half for Chile with Felipe Caicedo pulling one back for the Ecuadoreans.
Chilean pressure was rewarded in 35th minute when Sanchez scored with a header and Medel doubled their lead two minutes later connecting with Sanchez’s header following a Marcelo Diaz corner.
In Montevideo, midfielder Cristian Rodriguez, striker Luis Suarez with a penalty and Edinson Cavani scored for Uruguay with Maxi Rodriguez, Argentina captain in the absence of the injured Lionel Messi, replying twice.
Colombia, who had qualified on Friday, ended their campaign on a winning note with a 2-1 victory over Paraguay in Asuncion, both their goals coming from central defender Mario Yepes.
“Colombia showed they want to be a great team... Today we had to make a big effort and that’s a sign the team want to keep growing,” said their Argentine coach Jose Pekerman, who was without suspended striker Radamel Falcao in Asuncion.
Paraguay, who reached the 2010 quarter-finals under Barcelona’s present coach Gerardo Martino, failed in their bid to reach a fifth successive tournament.
England’s manager from their failed 2010 finals campaign Fabio Capello will also be in Brazil after Russia got the point they needed with a 1-1 away draw at Azerbaijan.
It will be the 2018 World Cup hosts’ first World Cup finals since 2002.
Bosnia — who had lost to Portugal in play-offs for the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012 — progress at the expense of Greece, who go into the play-offs, while Portugal finish runners-up to Russia and will also contest a winner takes all play-off.
Vedad Ibisevic was Bosnia’s hero as he scored what was the most important of his 20 international goals as the 29-year-old Stuttgart striker struck in the 68th minute.
His side-footed effort came just two minutes after he had seen another shot brilliantly saved by Giederius Arlauskas, who had denied Bosnia throughout the match in a stunning performance.
Arlausakas’s performance could be put into the context that only the Germans and the Dutch have scored more goals in the qualifying games than the Bosnians.
Bosnia coach Safet Susic, who appeared in two World Cup finals for the former Yugoslavia, was ecstatic.
“I congratulate these guys for their great work in the last four years,” he told local TV.
“It would have been a real injustice if we had failed to win the group and qualify for the World Cup.” Greece by contrast have failed to sparkle in front of goal and were only able to beat Liechtenstein 2-0 in Athens leaving them with just 12 goals in their 10 qualifiers.
Spain’s 2-0 win extends their remarkable record in being unbeaten in World Cup qualifying matches dating back to 1993 and while they have also like the Greeks not piled on the goals coach Vicente del Bosque said they had shown other qualities.
“We need to value what we have done in this group. It hasn’t always been easy because the opponents have defended deep and made it difficult for us.
Portugal, Greece, France and Ukraine — the latter two finishing runners-up to Spain and England respectively, will learn who their opponents are in the play-offs in the draw next Monday.
Portuguese coach Paulo Bento admitted they had not been the best team in the group but pledged his side would do their utmost to reach Brazil.
“When results and performances have not been good it is logical to shake things up,” said Bento, who took them to the Euro 2012 semi-finals.
“However, we cannot as we have a short time only to prepare for the play-offs in the best possible manner.”
Chile, Ecuador through; Uruguay to playoff
Chile beat Ecuador 2-1 in their closing South American qualifier in Santiago on Tuesday as both went through automatically to the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil.
The result consigned Uruguay, despite beating group winners Argentina 3-2 in Montevideo, to a playoff against Jordan next month for one more berth in the finals.
Argentina, Colombia, Chile and Ecuador occupied the top four automatic qualifying places in the nine-nation group with Uruguay going into the playoff next month, despite catching Ecuador on 25 points but having an inferior goal difference.
They will face Asia qualifiers Jordan over two legs in their fourth consecutive playoff, having taken that route to the 2002 and 2010 finals and being eliminated by Australia at the same stage in the qualifiers for the 2006 finals.
Chile striker Alexis Sanchez and midfielder Gary Medel scored in the first half for Chile with Felipe Caicedo pulling one back for the Ecuadoreans.
Chilean pressure was rewarded in 35th minute when Sanchez scored with a header and Medel doubled their lead two minutes later connecting with Sanchez’s header following a Marcelo Diaz corner.
In Montevideo, midfielder Cristian Rodriguez, striker Luis Suarez with a penalty and Edinson Cavani scored for Uruguay with Maxi Rodriguez, Argentina captain in the absence of the injured Lionel Messi, replying twice.
Colombia, who had qualified on Friday, ended their campaign on a winning note with a 2-1 victory over Paraguay in Asuncion, both their goals coming from central defender Mario Yepes.
“Colombia showed they want to be a great team... Today we had to make a big effort and that’s a sign the team want to keep growing,” said their Argentine coach Jose Pekerman, who was without suspended striker Radamel Falcao in Asuncion.
Paraguay, who reached the 2010 quarter-finals under Barcelona’s present coach Gerardo Martino, failed in their bid to reach a fifth successive tournament.
ليست هناك تعليقات:
إرسال تعليق